Search

The association between acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is yet to be investigated. To determine the link between AKN and HS using a large computerized health maintenance database. A cross-sectional study design was used to assess the prevalence of HS in patients with AKN and in control participants matched by age, sex, and ethnicity. A total of 2677 participants with AKN and 13,190 control participants were studied. An increased prevalence of HS was observed in the AKN group compared to the control group (1.0% vs. 0.3%, respectively; OR, 3.6; 95% CI 2.2-5.8; P < 0.001), especially among those younger than 20 years (OR, 10.2; 95% CI 3.1-34.2; P < 0.001), and females (OR, 15.7; 95% CI 3.1-78.8; P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the multivariate analysis demonstrated a persistent association of AKN with HS (adjusted OR, 3.6; 95% CI 2.1-5.9; P < 0.001). This study demonstrated a significant association between AKN and HS in an Israeli population. The threshold for diagnosis of HS among patients with AKN must be lowered in patients presenting with concerning symptoms. Further observational studies in other patient populations will help confirm this relationship.

Background: A temporal relationship between hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and obesity has not been established., Objectives: To compare baseline body mass index (BMI) and change in BMI for patients with HS and controls before and after diagnosis., Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control analysis of 1284 patients with HS and controls matched for age, sex, race and calendar year between 1 January 1999 and 9 September 2019. BMI 7 years prior to first HS diagnosis, and rate of BMI change, were compared for patients with HS and controls using linear mixed effects models., Results: Baseline BMI was higher among patients with HS than controls [mean difference 3·03 kg m -2 , 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·44-3·62; P < 0·001)]. This difference was larger for women [mean difference 3·37 kg m -2 (95% CI 2·73-4·01)] than men [mean difference 1·27 kg m -2 (95% CI - 0·20-2·73; interaction P = 0·01)], and for patients with HS diagnosed before age 40 years [mean difference 4·10 kg m -2 (95% CI 3·15-5·06)] than those diagnosed after age 40 years [mean difference 2·38 kg m -2 (95% CI 1·63-3·12; interaction P < 0·001)]. Prior to diagnosis, average annual increase in BMI among patients with HS was slightly higher than controls. There was no statistically significant change in annual BMI among patients with HS following diagnosis., Conclusions: Baseline BMI and, to a lesser extent, rate of BMI change appear to be risk factors for developing HS. The influence of BMI may play a larger role among female patients and younger patients., (© 2020 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Knowledge on hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS) is rapidly increasing. HS has a profound impact on patients and their family life. Several factors, such as comorbidities, unemployment and HS severity, make this impact even more severe. The most widely used instrument to measure this impact is the dermatology-specific DLQI. We also identified six HS-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments. Of them, HIDRAdisk, HSIA, HiSQOL and HSQoL-24 are better validated but there is still lack of experience of its use. Several treatment methods showed positive effect on patients' HRQoL. Surgery remains a method with a substantial positive effect on HRQoL. Several studies confirming a positive effect of adalimumab on the HRQoL of patients with HS were published during the last three years. Data on the influence of several other biologics on HRQoL of HS patients are controversial or based on studies with a small number of patients.

CME Dermatology 23/Answers: Hidradenitis suppurativa Abstract. Hidradenitis suppurativa (Acne inversa) is a chronic skin disease characterized by recurrent inflammatory nodules, abscesses, and scarring mainly in the intertriginous areas. The prevalence is estimated to be 0.05 to 4.1 % worldwide, with women being more commonly affected. The exact pathogenesis remains unknown, but hair follicle occlusion and inflammation seem to be the initiating events. Several epidemiological correlations with smoking and obesity as well as mutations in gamma secretase genes were described. The therapy depends on the extension of the disorder and should respect the current guidelines. Topical clindamycin is suitable for mild forms of the disease whereas moderate to severe disease requires systemic anti-inflammatory treatment. Surgical intervention is currently the only definitive treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS) more prevalent and disproportionally affects African American females. Although there are limited studies in HS skin of colour populations in the USA, there is more scarcity of HS skin of colour studies in other countries, which limits the overall understanding of the disease among these patients. Herein, our overview of the 10th European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation (EHSF) e.V. Conference provided a crude example of the limited number of skin of colour physicians, physician scientists and inclusion of skin of colour patients highlighting the need to increase awareness of this important issue. We summarized the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture and focused on treatment options from southeast Asia and Africa. Our outlined general recommendations for diagnosis will render better clinical care and outcomes for diverse patient populations., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in South-East Asia and East Asia shows distinct clinical, environmental, physiological and likely genetic differences compared with the West. A male predominance is present, which may be due to differences in smoking habits. Involvement of the buttocks is common in East Asian patients, while the axillae are most commonly affected in South-East Asian patients. Metabolic comorbidities are prevalent in South-East Asian and East Asian HS patients. A family history of HS is less common than noted in Western populations. Asian ethnic subgroups deserve further study., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Endocrine and metabolic associations have been recently reported in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS); however, fertility was only rarely investigated in women and not at all in men., Objective: To evaluate the association of HS with male and female infertility., Methods: A cross-sectional, matched controlled, population-based study was designed. The association between HS and male and female infertility was evaluated in patients with HS (n = 4191) and age- and gender-matched controls (n = 20 941), while utilising the Clalit Health Services databases, the largest community-based health maintenance organisation in Israel., Results: Hidradenitis suppurativa was associated with infertility in males and females over all reproductive-age groups, especially among individuals aged 36-45 years (OR 4.50, 95%CI 2.55-7.93, P < 0.001), and in female patients (OR 3.10, 95%CI 2.57-3.74, P < 0.001). After adjustment for demographic and clinical factors, the association remained significant only in females (OR 1.26 95%CI 1.04-1.55, P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Patients with HS are at increased risk of infertility, particularly females and patients in the 36- to 45-year age group. Physicians should take the additional physiological and psychological burden of infertility among HS patients into account, primarily among female patients at procreative age., (© 2021 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.)

Background: The findings of most studies suggest that depression and anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric comorbidities in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS/AI)., Methods: In a prospective study, 51 patients with HS/AI were further examined for psychiatric comorbidity using a standardized interview and questionnaires., Results: In psychiatric examination, 29.4% of HS/AI patients had additional mental symptoms, mainly manifested as depressive disorder. The HS/AI patients were rather young and female, and they showed a high incidence of nicotine and alcohol use, and a positive family history of paternal alcohol dependence. In addition, HS/AI patients experienced more severe psychosocial impairments in the form of lack of partnership and lower school attainment., Conclusions: Acne inversa is a severe chronic inflammatory skin disease that, like other inflammatory dermatoses, is associated with mental comorbidity and psychosocial impairments. Since especially young patients are affected, a psychiatric-psychotherapeutic cotreatment should be considered already at an early stage.

Italy was among the world's earliest and most affected countries by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We report the Italian experience with the pandemic. The dermatologic community immediately reduced any type of activities to 80% to 90% of outpatient consultations, both in public hospitals and in private offices. The Italian Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases and the Italian Forensic Dermatologic Society supported the dermatologic community by reporting recommendations in newsletters (vademecum) regarding the routine management of dermatologic patients either in the hospital or private setting. We have provided an overview of the skin manifestations from the pandemic, including the consequences of the misuse of safety measures. We also have evaluated the recently developed research projects on patients treated with biologics for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa, as well as on the registries regarding various skin diseases affected by COVID-19., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In spite of the large heterogeneity, limited data exist on hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) phenotypes. To identify the HS phenotypes that best explain the disease heterogeneity, a cross-sectional study using latent class (LC) analysis was conducted on a cohort of patients examined at 17 dermatological centers participating in the Italian Registry of Hidradenitis Suppurativa and being enrolled between January 2015 and January 2020. Overall, 965 patients aged 32.0 ± 12.4 years (mean ± SD) were evaluated. A three-class model in LC analysis best fitted the data. Patients in LC1 (20.1%) were females, mostly obese, with a high probability of axillary‒groin (0.85) and mammary (0.59) lesions and the highest HS severity. Patients in LC2 (29.6%) were nonobese males, with moderate disease severity; with a high probability of gluteal (0.50) and genital (0.17) lesions, besides axillary‒groin involvement; and with acne and pilonidal cysts. Patients in LC3 (50%) were nonobese females with a milder disease mostly limited to axillary (0.52) and groin (0.66) areas. The stratification of patients with HS into a severe axillary‒mammary‒groin phenotype with predominantly anterior body involvement in females, an axillary‒gluteal‒groin phenotype of intermediate severity mainly affecting males in the posterior body areas, and an axillary‒groin phenotype with mildest clinical symptoms and limited skin involvement may help in optimizing HS management., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), also called acne inversa, is an inflammatory skin disease, which causes HS patients to suffer from recurrent symptoms and severe comorbidities. The aim of this article was to provide evidence on the epidemiology of HS in Taiwan through a retrospective population-based cohort study. The patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 705.83 and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes for HS treatments from 2000 to 2013 in the National Health Insurance Research Database, which covers 99.9% Taiwanese residents, were enrolled in this 14-year nationwide population-based cohort study. The age- and sex-standardized prevalence, incidence, and the prescription pattern for HS were analyzed. The annual percent change (APC) was used to estimate the trend of prevalence and incidence of HS from 2000 to 2013. During 2000-2013 in Taiwan, the 14-year period prevalence rate was 185.6/100 000 (95% confidence interval [CI], 177.3-194.3) with an APC of -2.96% (95% CI, -1.73 to -4.17) and the mean annual adjusted incidence rate from 2001 to 2013 was 11.8/100 000 (95% CI, 11.2-12.5) with an APC of -4.65% (95% CI, -3.32 to -5.95). Female : male ratio was 0.92 and the most common onset age was 15-24 years. Major treatments were systemic corticosteroids, systemic antihistamines, systemic antibiotics, and topical antibiotics. An increasing tendency of using systemic antibiotics was noted. In Taiwan, decreasing incidence and prevalence of HS was shown during 2000-2013. Relatively lower incidence and prevalence were noted compared to Western countries. Male predominance was revealed, and the use of systemic antibiotics became the mainstream in treatment for HS., (© 2021 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Acne vulgaris is a chronic, inflammatory, skin condition that involves the pilosebaceous follicles and is influenced by a variety of factors including genetics, androgen-stimulation of sebaceous glands with abnormal keratinization, colonization with Cutibacterium acnes (previously called Propionibacterium acnes), and pathological immune response to inflammation. Acne can occur at all ages and this discussion focuses on the first three decades of life. Conditions that are part of the differential diagnosis and/or are co-morbid with acne vulgaris are also considered. Acne in the first year of life includes neonatal acne (acne neonatorum) that presents in the first four weeks of life and infantile acne that usually presents between 3 and 6 months of the first year of life with a range of 3 to 16 months after birth. Acne rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory, skin condition that is distinct from acne vulgaris, typically presents in adults, and has four main types: erythemato-telangiectatic, papulopustular, phymatous and ocular. Treatment options for acne vulgaris include topical retinoids, topical benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics (topical, oral), oral contraceptive pills, isotretinoin, and others. Management must consider the increasing impact of antibiotic resistance in the 21st century. Psychological impact of acne can be quite severe and treatment of acne includes awareness of the potential emotional toll this disease may bring to the person with acne as well as assiduous attention to known side effects of various anti-acne medications (topical and systemic). Efforts should be directed at preventing acne-caused scars and depigmentation on the skin as well as emotional scars within the person suffering from acne., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) involving the vulva is seldom reported in the gynecological or dermatological literature. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of HS with vulvar affectation (VHS) and to compare it with patients without vulvar involvement. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary academic referral centre in Spain from May 1, 2015 to October 1, 2019. This study included 230 women with HS diagnosed in our hospital, 25 of them had vulvar involvement. In order to clinically characterize patients, demographic factors, comorbidities, clinical features, prescribed treatments and complications were recorded. The VHS group presented later median age of onset and lower body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.048), they mainly belonged to latent class 2 (LC2) and LC3 phenotypes involving groins, perineal and pubic area. A higher incidence of psychiatric disease was found in VHS (32% vs 10.7%). Significant positive association with fistula (P < 0.001), LC2 phenotype (P = 0.014), acne (P = 0.021) and thyroid disease (P = 0.006), and negative association with axillar lesions (P = 0.001) were noted. Ultrasonographical study of vulvar lesions demonstrated that most of them were fistulas with high Doppler signal suggestive of high inflammatory load. In conclusion, VHS is mostly seen in women with later onset and lower BMI and higher incidence of psychiatric disease compared to those without vulvar involvement. It is clinically characterized by the presence of fistulas and barely absent axillary involvement. Early diagnosis and treatment could be essential to prevent complications and quality of life impairment., (© 2021 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease with a prevalence of 0.1-1%, characterized by nodules and abscesses in the axillae, groin, and inframammary areas, sometimes developing into tunnels (or fistulas) and scars. Because hidradenitis suppurativa is more common in women and in those aged 18-40 years, obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyns) have the opportunity to diagnose, educate, initiate treatment, and coordinate care with ancillary health care professionals. The recently published North American treatment guidelines, along with management information for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa who are pregnant or breastfeeding, are summarized. By diagnosing and optimizing hidradenitis suppurativa treatment early in the disease course, ob-gyns can reduce morbidity, with the potential to favorably alter disease trajectory., Competing Interests: Financial Disclosure Christopher J. Sayed, MD, has been a speaker for AbbVie and Novartis, an advisor for UCB and AbbVie, and an investigator for InflaRx, UCB, Novartis, AbbVie, Chemocentryx, Incyte and GSK. Martin M. Okun, MD, PhD, has been a speaker for AbbVie and a consultant for AbbVie, Azora Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Glaxo Smith Kline, Incyte, Innovaderm, InflaRx, Genentech, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Seattle Genetics. The other author did not report any potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Importance: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in pediatric patients has been understudied. Increased awareness and recognition of HS prevalence in children demand efforts to better understand this condition., Objective: To describe the demographics, clinical features, treatment, associated comorbidities, and outcomes in a large cohort of pediatric patients with HS., Design, Setting, and Participants: International, multicenter, retrospective medical record review of pediatric patients (aged 1-18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of HS carried out in 10 dermatology clinics across the US, Canada, Israel, Australia, and Italy from January 1996 to January 2017., Main Outcomes and Measures: Patient demographics, clinical features, severity, associated comorbidities, and treatments in pediatric patients with HS., Results: This cross-sectional study included 481 patients diagnosed with HS. Overall, 386 (80%) were girls. The mean (SD) age of disease onset was 12.5 (2.9) years, and the mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 14.4 (3.5) years. Family history of HS was present in 111 of 271 (41%) patients. First signs/symptoms reported at disease onset were cyst/abscess in 229 of 481 (48%), pain/tenderness in 118 of 481 (25%), and papules/pustules in 117 of 481 (24%). At initial dermatologic assessment, 233 of 481 (48%) patients already had evidence of skin scarring. Disease severity (Hurley staging) was documented in 288 of 481 (60%) patients (47% stage 1, 45% stage 2 and 8% stage 3). Comorbid conditions were reported in 406 of 481 (85%) patients, the most common being obesity (263/406 [65%]) and acne vulgaris (118/406 [29%]). Complications occurred in 378 of 481 (79%) patients, the most common of which were scars or contractures (301/378 [80%])., Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this study indicate that there is a gap in recognizing and diagnosing pediatric HS. Pediatric patients with HS are likely to present with other comorbidities. Prospective observational and interventional studies are needed to better understand clinical course and optimal treatments for pediatric HS.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting approximately 1% of the global population. While age- and sex-specific prevalence of HS is well documented in literature, few studies have explored trends in racial predilections for HS. The objective of this study is to investigate the race-specific prevalence of HS. MEDLINE and EMBASE searches were conducted in the OVID database. Keywords included variations of "race," "ethnicity," "country," "prevalence," and "Hidradenitis suppurativa." Studies were included if they were written in English or French, conducted on human participants, and had data on HS and race-specific prevalence. Meta-analyses, systematic and literature reviews, and irrelevant articles were excluded. Thirty-nine out of 184 articles met the inclusion criteria after abstract and full-text screening. Population distribution was scaled according to country-specific demographics reports. These demographic reports were extracted from each country's national statistics report. The average HS prevalence rates were highest in African American populations (1.3%), lowest in Hispanics/Latinos (0.07%), and intermediate amongst Caucasian populations (0.75%). Total prevalence in all other ethnic groups (0.17%) was minor in comparison to African American and Caucasian populations. Since the highest rates of HS were found among African American population, literature has highlighted the possibility of a genetic etiology in HS development. However, further literature examining race-specific prevalence of HS internationally is required to accurately assess the frequency and underlying etiology of HS among varying racial populations.

The association of hidradenitis suppurativa with other skin diseases has not yet been investigated in larger studies based on dermatological exams. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence and cutaneous comorbidities of hidradenitis suppurativa in the German working population. Between 2014 and 2017, 20,112 people in 343 German companies were examined for the presence of clinical features of hidradenitis suppurativa within the framework of a cross-sectional epidemiological study based on whole-body examinations. In addition, all cutaneous comorbidities were recorded. Point prevalence was calculated and the differences between individuals with and without hidradenitis suppurativa were determined by bivariate analysis. All statistical procedures were performed using SPSS 23.0 for Windows. Of 20,112 people examined, mean age was 43.6 ± 10.5 years; 52.3% were male. In total, n = 57 people (0.3%) with hidradenitis suppurativa were identified; 61.4% (n = 35) being male. In addition, non-inflammatory hidradenitis suppurativa-related lesions were found in 674 other individuals. In a bivariate comparison, patients with hidradenitis suppurativa showed significantly more frequently the following cutaneous comorbidities: acne vulgaris, psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, excoriations, and folliculitis. We determined a point prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa of 0.3%. Since we have examined the working population, the healthy worker effect, which could have led to underestimation of prevalence, cannot be ruled out. The point prevalence of 0.3% for employed people in Germany and a prevalence of 3.0% for inflammatory and non-inflammatory hidradenitis suppurativa-related lesions show that hidradenitis suppurativa is an important disease for the whole health system.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the skin bearing apocrine glands. There are numerous comorbidities and associated diseases among patients with HS. The association of HS and thyroid abnormalities is equivocal. We aimed to explore whether HS is associated with thyroid disorders., Methods: In this cross-sectional large-scale population-based study in Israel, patients with a validated diagnosis of HS were matched at a proportion of 1:5 with age- and gender-matched healthy controls without HS. A cross-checking for HS diagnosis by International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision (ICD-9) coding, and hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism by ICD-9 coding was performed. Demographic and exposure covariates were identified. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were utilized to establish the association of HS with thyroid disorders., Results: Study participants included 4,191 HS patients and 20,941 controls. The average age of patients was 39.7 years old, and 61.8% were female. 53.4% of HS patients and 13.5% of controls (P < 0.001) were smokers. Odds ratios (ORs) for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in HS were 2.91 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.48-3.40) and 2.25 (95% CI 1.55-3.28), respectively (P < 0.001 for both). While the association of HS with hypothyroidism was maintained across genders and all age groups, and remained positive after controlling for smoking status, the association with hyperthyroidism remained positive only among females, middle-aged patients, and nonsmokers., Conclusion: HS is independently associated with hypothyroidism. The association of HS with hyperthyroidism held significance only in limited subgroups. Smoking status is a major modifier, mainly in the association of HS with hyperthyroidism., (© 2020 the International Society of Dermatology.)

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a common recurrent inflammatory skin disease. It is associated with multiple comorbidities whose temporal relationships are unknown due to long diagnostic delays. This study of otherwise healthy blood donors with self-reported symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa investigated the temporal relationships of comorbidities. A prospective survival analysis on a nationwide cohort of blood donors, using registry data on drug prescription, was used to calculate the hazard ratio of time until first prescription of medical treatment for the following hidradenitis suppurativa-related comorbidities: heart disease, diabetes, depression, thyroid disease and pain. Hidradenitis suppurativa status was determined by a validated questionnaire, and the survival analysis was adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status and having an International Classification of Diseases Version 10 (ICD-10) diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa. Of the participants, 1,012 reported hidradenitis suppurativa symptoms, and these symptoms increased the hazard ratio of antidepressants (1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.17-2.56, p ≈ 0.006) and analgesics (hazard ratio 1.24, 95% confidence interval 1.11-1.39, p < 0.001). Pain and depression are the first comorbidities to present in hidradenitis suppurativa pathogenesis.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder that affects the pilosebaceous unit of the intertriginous body areas. Pain is one of the most important problems in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. The aim of this study, which included 1,795 patients, was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of pain. The intensity of pain was assessed with a numerical rating scale. In addition, pain intensity was correlated with various clinical features. Pain was reported by 83.6% of subjects. The majority of patients (77.6%) experienced mild pain; women and smokers tended to experience more intense pain. Pain intensity was greater in patients with multiple affected skin areas and correlated positively with the number of those affected areas (r = 0.151, p < 0.001). There was no difference in pain intensity between affected locations. The worst pain was observed in the patients with the most severe disease and it would weaken significantly along with the severity of hidradenitis suppurativa (assessed using the Hurley staging system and the International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System).

Background and Objectives: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and plaque psoriasis (Pso) are supposed to have a coprevalence. However, data showing a more detailed description of patients with both diseases are rare. In this study, we characterized patients with both skin diseases in terms of onset, disease course, severity, concomitant diseases and therapeutical management., Patients and Methods: Data from 28 patients with a confirmed codiagnosis of HS and Pso from 2 university hospitals presented between 2015 and 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. For further characterization, patients were divided into different cohorts depending on whether HS or Pso was diagnosed as the first disease., Results: The average age of patients with a coprevalence of both diseases was 44.4 years with a female/male ratio of 1:1.15. Fifteen patients were diagnosed first with HS at an average age of 22.8 years, 13 patients first showed symptoms of Pso at a mean age of 21.7 years. The average time to the onset of the corresponding second disease was 14.3 years. Patients with HS as first disease showed a significantly severer form of HS compared to patients with a first diagnosis of Pso (mean highest International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System: 23.5 vs. 8.2; p = 0.02). Severity of psoriatic disease in patients with HS at first diagnosis was numerically lower but not significant compared to the cohort with Pso at first diagnosis (mean highest Psoriasis Area and Severity Index: 7.8 vs. 13.2; p = 0.299). The most frequent comorbidity in all patients was obesity (64.3%; mean body mass index: 32.2) followed by psychiatric complaints (25%) and psoriatic arthritis (21.4%). Adalimumab was the most commonly used drug that had a positive effect on both diseases, HS and Pso., Conclusions: In patients with a coprevalence of HS and Pso, the disease which occurs first appears to take a severer course, with an increased risk of development of obesity and psychiatric comorbidity in both cohorts., (© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent, debilitating, and frequently misdiagnosed inflammatory skin disease that often requires surgical intervention. To assess the prevalence of HS patients in surgeons' practice and surgeons' approach to treating HS patients, we created a self-administered, Hurley stage-based questionnaire that was distributed during the Latvian Association of Surgeons meeting. Of the total 60 questionnaires distributed, 56 (93%) were collected and 53 (88%) of them were considered valid. Overall, 73.6% of the surgeons confirmed having seen patients with chronic inflamed suppurative lesions in the skin folds during their practice. Median reported number of HS patients in the surgeons' practice was 3, ranging from 0 to 30. Similarly, 73.6% of surgeons would undertake HS treatment. The proportion of surgeons undertaking treatment was higher if the surgeons had diagnosed HS by themselves but was not affected by personal knowledge of HS. Surgeons chose monotherapy for Hurley stages I, II, and III in 64.2%, 64.2%, and 62.3% of the cases, respectively. The most common therapeutic choice for monotherapy was topical antiseptics (26.4%) or topical antibiotics (20.8%) for Hurley stage I and surgery or systemic antibiotics for Hurley stage II (20.8% or 17.0%, respectively) and Hurley stage III (32.1% or 11.3%, respectively). A wide diversity of treatment approaches in specified clinical scenarios was observed, which indicates the need for local guidelines., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has been associated with auto-inflammatory conditions, yet the risk of developing connective tissue disease (CTD), morphoea and systemic vasculitis has not been well-characterized., Objectives: We sought to evaluate the risk of developing CTD, morphoea and systemic vasculitis in patients with HS., Methods: Using claims data, we identified patients with HS and used 2 : 1 risk-set sampling to identify patients without HS. Patients with existing CTD were excluded. Patient follow-up lasted until first occurrence of the following events: the occurrence of outcome (i.e. systemic lupus erythematosus, morphoea, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren's Syndrome and systemic vasculitis), death, disenrolment or end of data stream. Hazard ratios (HR) of developing CTD, morphoea and systemic vasculitis were computed after 1 : 1 propensity score (PS) matching., Results: After 2 : 1 risk-set sampling, we identified 78 122 HS patients and 156 247 non-HS comparators. The mean follow-up was 540 days. After PS matching, HS patients had an increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus HR = 1.63 (1.31-2.03) and morphoea HR = 2.02 (1.32-3.11), compared to non-HS patients. We did not observe an increased risk for systemic sclerosis HR = 0.90 (0.59-1.44), Sjogren's Syndrome HR = 0.91 (0.73-1.14) or systemic vasculitis HR = 0.87 (0.64-1.20)., Conclusion: In this population-based study, we observed an increased risk of developing systemic lupus erythematous and morphoea subsequent to a first-recorded diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa., (© 2020 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that severely impairs patients' quality of life. It is characterized by recurrent painful nodules, abscesses and draining sinus tracts in primarily intertriginous areas. We aimed to review the most up-to-date information regarding the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic studies, pathogenesis, comorbidities and quality of life of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. We performed a systematic search of Medline, Embase database (from inception to September 2019) and review of bibliographies without restrictions on year or language. HS has an estimated global prevalence of 0.00033-4.1% (but most likely 0.7-1.2% in the European-US population). Patients still experience a significant diagnostic delay, up to several years. In the absence of pathognomonic tests, the diagnosis of HS is made from clinical observation and the disease narrative. Phenotypic variation renders diagnosis and severity assessment difficult. Ultrasound imaging is an emerging assessment tool for deep-seated lesions. The Hurley Staging System is still widely used in severity rating. Follicular hyperkeratosis and dilatation, follicular rupture and chronic inflammation with architectural tissue changes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of HS. HS has been associated with metabolic syndrome and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type II, polycystic ovarian syndrome, depression, suicide and substance use disorders. It has been linked to other immune-mediated diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and spondyloarthropathy. Pain, pruritus, malodour, low self-esteem, sleep and sexual dysfunctions, and poor mental health are chronic symptoms or consequences of uncontrolled disease. HS is an under-diagnosed and under-treated disease with a profound negative impact on patients' quality of life. In the light of its associated comorbidities, an interdisciplinary management approach may be needed to ensure the best outcomes., (© 2020 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background/objectives: Previous studies have demonstrated an increased prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in adults with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Whether the same association exists in pediatric patients is unknown. Fecal calprotectin (FC) is used to screen and monitor disease activity in IBD. There are no data on using FC to screen for IBD in pediatric patients with HS. Study objectives include a) assessing the prevalence of IBD among pediatric patients with HS; b) characterizing the IBD phenotype among pediatric patients with HS; and c) describing the use of FC as a screening tool for IBD in this population., Design/methods: This retrospective chart review was conducted at a single academic children's hospital. We included patients ≤18 years old diagnosed with HS between 2013 and 2018., Results: We identified 109 pediatric patients with HS. Six patients (6/109, 5.5%) were diagnosed with IBD, 83.3% (5/6) classified as ulcerative colitis. Almost half (53/109, 48.6%) of HS patients had gastrointestinal symptoms; of those, 11.3% (6/53) were diagnosed with IBD. FC was obtained in 8.3% (9/109) of HS patients overall and 66.7% (4/6) of HS patients diagnosed with IBD. Among patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, FC was obtained in 17.0% (9/53); endoscopy was performed in 24.5% (13/53). FC was elevated in all patients with IBD with an FC level. Of those with elevated FC, 80.0% (4/5) had IBD., Conclusions: Pediatric HS may be associated with an increased prevalence of IBD suggesting that more widespread screening for IBD may be indicated. FC is infrequently used but may be a useful screening tool., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition substantially impacting patients' quality of life; the pathogenesis remains unclear, and treatment is complex and not yet standardized. Observational data are increasingly being used to evaluate therapeutics in "real-life" interventions, and the development of e-cohorts is offering new tools for epidemiological studies at the population level., Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and treatment history of HS participants in the Community of Patients for Research (ComPaRe) cohort and to compare these to other cohorts., Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of the baseline data of HS participants in ComPaRe, an e-cohort of patients with chronic diseases. Data were collected using patient-reported questionnaires about clinical-dem-ographic aspects, quality of life, and treatment history., Results: A total of 396 participants (339 females, 57 males) were included (mean age 38 years); 83 (21%) had a family history of HS, 227 (57.3%) were current smokers, and 241 (60.9%) were overweight or obese. Most of the participants declared a Hurley stage II (n = 263, 66.4%) or III (n = 76, 20.3%). The breast was more frequently affected in women than men (37.5 vs. 5.3%, p < 0.0001), whereas the dorsal region was more frequently affected in men (39.5 vs. 10.9%, p < 0.0001). Increased disease stage was associated with obesity (25.9 vs. 33.8 vs. 51.3%, p = 0.02) and some HS localizations (genital [p < 0.005], pubis [p < 0.007], gluteal fold [p = 0.02], and groin [p < 0.0001]). The most frequently prescribed treatments were oral antibiotics (n = 362, 91.4%), especially amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cyclins. Less than 10% of participants received biologics. Most of these results were consistent with previously published cohorts., Conclusion: Recruitment of participants by such a web platform can be a faster way to get relevant scientific data for a wide variety of patients that could be used for epidemiological studies and to evaluate therapeutics in "real-life" interventions., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Schizophrenia is a debilitating neuropsychiatric condition that affects 0.5% of the North American population. Skin disease in schizophrenia has not been well described. Identifying skin diseases that are commonly comorbid with schizophrenia may help clinicians address the burden of skin disease in patients with schizophrenia., Summary: We conducted a nonsystematic review of the literature to identify skin diseases that may be associated with schizophrenia. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO for articles published in English from December 2000 through April 2020 using the key words "skin disease" or "dermatological" or "dermatology" and "schizophrenia." Based on our results, we further refined the search terms to include more specific skin diseases. Schizophrenia appears to be associated with a number of skin diseases, including inflammatory dermatoses, autoimmune diseases, and certain genodermatoses. Limitations include being a nonsystematic review and the relative paucity of more rigorous clinical research using longitudinal study designs., (© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Aim of the Study: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and psoriasis vulgaris (PSO) are chronic inflammatory dermatoses in which proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-17, play a central role. The prevalence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is commonly higher in PSO than in healthy individuals. This study was thus set up to investigate the prevalence of KCS among patients with HS., Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study standardized tear film parameters and symptom-oriented questionnaires (OSDI, SPEED) were analyzed in a total of 71 subjects (HS n = 20, PSO n = 20, healthy controls n = 31). Additionally, IL-17 and MMP-9 in the tear film were analyzed. These parameters were correlated to the clinical severity of the skin disease. PSO patients served as inflammatory control group., Results: There were statistically significant differences in OSDI ( p = .003) and SPEED (p ≤ 0.001) between HS and the control group, but not between PSO and controls. For HS, there was a statistically significant correlation between symptoms (OSDI) and the severity of HS according to Hurley stage ( p = .023). Tear film concentrations showed significantly increased levels of IL-17 ( p = .018), but not MMP-9, in PSO alone compared to the control group., Conclusion: Data show that subjective complaints of KCS may be associated with HS and correlate with the severity of the respective Hurley stage, but do not involve alterations of tear film MMP-9 and IL-17. Clinicians should remain mindful that ocular complications in HS are often more vague than in psoriatic patients, but dry eye symptoms might be detrimental for the patients' quality of life.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can cause significant physical, mental, and socioeconomic burden. There remains a paucity of literature on HS in the pediatric population. This systematic review highlights recent advances in pediatric HS in epidemiology, presentation, comorbidities, and management. PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were used to identify trials and articles published on HS in pediatric patients between January 2015 and October 2019. A total of 39 articles were included. Current evidence suggests that pediatric onset HS may be associated with genetic factors along with endocrine and metabolic abnormalities. Delayed diagnosis in children with HS contributes to poor outcomes. Overall, children and adults with HS share similar lesion types and involved areas. Pediatric HS is associated with a number of comorbid conditions including acne, obesity, inflammatory joint disease, Down syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and diabetes. There are currently no pediatric treatment guidelines. Adalimumab is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe HS in children 12 and older. Other targeted immunomodulators and hormonal modulators are under investigation. Although the number of studies concerning HS are increasing, further investigation is warranted to better characterize HS, facilitate early diagnosis, and determine the best management for children.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease defined clinically by multiple, painful inflammatory lesions occurring predominantly in flexural sites. Onset is typically soon after puberty; however, it remains unknown whether the menopause induces remission. In North American and European patients with HS the female-to-male ratio is approximately 3 : 1 but the ratio is 1 : 2 in South Korean patients. It may be that some elements of HS epidemiology cannot be generalized across all populations. Elements of HS epidemiology in the USA and Europe are well established, including strong associations with obesity and smoking, which may increase disease severity. There are associations between HS and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. People with HS have double the risk of death from CVD compared with those without HS and 1·5 times the risk compared with patients with psoriasis. Depression and anxiety are associated with HS and completed suicide rates in those with HS are more than double the rates in controls. Associations exist between HS and other chronic inflammatory conditions, particularly inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory arthritis. Case-control studies demonstrate associations with pilonidal sinus, polycystic ovary syndrome, Down syndrome, obstructive sleep apnoea and pyoderma gangrenosum. Population-based studies using routinely collected healthcare data from the USA estimate a prevalence of 0·1%, suggesting HS is relatively uncommon. European studies include undiagnosed patients and typically estimate prevalence of 1% or more, suggesting a common condition. Resolving the controversy surrounding a greater than 10-fold difference in HS prevalence estimates remains a high priority., (© 2020 The Authors. British Journal of Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Association of Dermatologists.)

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) rarely affects pediatric patients. The literature on pediatric HS patients is scarce. This is a cross-sectional study based on case note review or interviews and clinical examination of 140 pediatric patients undergoing secondary or tertiary level care. Patients were predominantly female (75.5%, n = 105) with a median age of 16. 39% reported 1st-degree relative with HS. Median BMI percentile was 88, and 11% were smokers (n = 15). Median modified Sartorius score was 8.5. Notable comorbidities found were acne (32.8%, n = 45), hirsutism (19.3%, n = 27), and pilonidal cysts (16.4%, n = 23). Resorcinol (n = 27) and clindamycin (n = 25) were the most frequently used topical treatments. Patients were treated with tetracycline (n = 32), or oral clindamycin and rifampicin in combination (n = 29). Surgical excision was performed in 18 patients, deroofing in five and incision in seven patients. Obesity seemed to be prominent in the pediatric population and correlated to parent BMI, suggesting a potential for preventive measures for the family. Disease management appeared to be similar to that of adult HS, bearing in mind that the younger the patient, the milder the disease in majority of cases.

Importance: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease in which genetic factors are considered to play a role, with up to 38% of patients reporting a family history. Variations in the γ-secretase genes are found mainly in familial cases with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. These variations are rare in the general population with hidradenitis suppurativa, even in patients who report a family history of the disease., Objective: To assess the heritability of hidradenitis suppurativa in a nationwide Dutch twin cohort., Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cross-sectional study on self-reported hidradenitis suppurativa conducted from 2011 to 2016, data were collected from twins participating in the surveys of the nationwide Netherlands Twin Register. All complete twin pairs answering the question on hidradenitis suppurativa in the survey were included: 978 female monozygotic twin pairs and 344 male monozygotic twin pairs and 426 female dizygotic twin pairs, 167 male dizygotic twin pairs, and 428 dizygotic twin pairs of the opposite sex. Statistical analysis was performed from July to November 2019., Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome is the proportion of susceptibility to hidradenitis suppurativa due to additive genetic factors (narrow-sense heritability), dominant genetic factors, common or shared environmental factors, or unshared or unique environmental factors. The main outcome was evaluated prior to data collection., Results: The prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa among twin pairs was 1.2% (58 of 4686); the mean (SD) age was 32.7 (15.4) years. The narrow-sense heritability of hidradenitis suppurativa was 77% (95% CI, 54%-90%), with the remainder of the variance due to unshared or unique environmental factors based on an age-adjusted model combining additive genetic factors and unshared or unique environmental factors., Conclusions and Relevance: The high heritability found in this study suggests a stronger than previously assumed genetic basis of hidradenitis suppurativa. Environmental factors were also shown to contribute to the susceptibility to hidradenitis suppurativa, supporting a multifactorial cause of the disease. Moreover, the results of this study strongly support the need for a global genome-wide association study in the general population of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Background: Over recent years, the link between obesity, metabolic syndrome and Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has been explored. It has been demonstrated that HS patients have a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and an increased frequency of insulin resistance. The objective of our study is to estimate the effectiveness of an oral supplementation based on myo-inositol (MI), folic acid and liposomal magnesium (Levigon ® , Sanitpharma; Milan, Italy) on the clinical and metabolic profile of patients affected by HS., Methods: Twenty subjects with HS and an impaired glucose metabolism were enrolled. Group A: 10 subjects received for 6 months MI 2000 mg, liposomal magnesium and folic acid associated to topical antibiotic therapy (clindamycin gel 1%), systemic antibiotic therapy (clindamycin 300 mg b.i.d. and rifampicin 600 mg daily for 6 weeks) and a normocaloric diet group B: 10 subjects received topical and systemic antibiotic therapy associated to a normocaloric diet for 6 months., Results: After 6 months group A patients showed an average reduction of Sartorius Score from 38.3±7.75 to 27.3±13.53 (P value <0.04) while in the control group there was a reduction of the Sartorius from 38.4±7.88 to 31.1±8.02 (P value =0.55). Moreover in group A Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was significantly reduced from 2.43±0.35 to 2.1±0.31 (P<0.01) whereas in group B HOMA-IR did not significantly decrease (2.51±0.65 at T0 at 2.40±0.67 at T1)., Conclusions: Our study underlines the importance of the evaluation of metabolic profile in patients with HS. Moreover, it suggests that the supplementation of MI, folic acid and liposomal magnesium in HS can improve the efficacy of concomitant therapies and the metabolic profile.

Background: Negative life events in childhood can increase the susceptibility to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a systemic inflammatory disease affecting the apocrine sweat glands, characterized by abscesses, fistulas and inflammatory nodules. It is unknown whether adult HS is associated with traumatic events., Objective: To investigate the association between childhood and total lifetime traumatic events and the presence of HS., Methods: We conducted a matched (1 : 3) case-control study with 71 HS patients and 213 controls. Patients were matched on age, gender and level of education. Questionnaires on general and demographic information, as well as the Traumatic Experience Checklist and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, were completed., Results: The number of traumatic events (OR: 1.20 per trauma, P value < 0.05), and childhood traumatic events (yes vs. no, OR 3.59, P value < 0.05) and the number of childhood traumatic events (OR 1.35 per trauma, P value < 0.05) were correlated with an increased risk of developing HS. Detailed analysis showed that childhood emotional traumatic events (OR 5.03, P value < 0.05) were significantly associated with the development of HS., Conclusion: Number of lifetime traumatic events and childhood traumatic events are associated with HS. This association is strongest for emotional childhood traumas. The increased prevalence of childhood traumas in HS patients can be one of the underlying mechanisms leading to systemic inflammation in these patients., (© 2020 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Little is known about the impact of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) on patients' sexuality. The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of HS on several previously unexplored aspects of sexuality. In March 2018, we conducted a crowd-sourced cross-sectional online survey hosted by the Spanish association of patients with HS (ASENDHI) and available in Spanish. A panel of experts and patients from ASENDHI designed various questions in order to explore the extent to which HS influenced participants' sex lives. The final sample consisted of 386 participants, 79.27% (306/386) of which were women and 20.73% (80/306) of which were men. Seventy-seven point one percent (236/306) of women and 67.5% (54/80) of men were in stable relationships; the rest of the participants were single. Forty-seven point nine percent (185/386) admitted to feeling fear of rejection. Pain was the symptom that most interfered with sexual relations in women and suppuration in men. Forty-four point three percent (171/386) of the participants considered themselves to be less attractive than average. Considering the participants in a stable relationship, women described receiving more emotional support from their partners, while men received more help with lesion dressing in intimate areas. Seventy-one point four percent (207/290) of participants stated that HS negatively affected their relationship. Among single patients, women experienced greater fear of rejection and were less willing to meet new people because of HS. Ninety-four point three percent (66/70) of women and 80.8% (21/26) of men stated that HS had a negative influence on their chances of having a relationship or sexual relations. In conclusion, HS has a significant, unrecognized and misunderstood impact on sexuality which must be addressed.